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Complexion trends have swung hard toward light tints and skinimalist coverage in recent years, but sometimes dark circles, redness, and hyperpigmentation call for a base product with a bit more payoff. But finding a formula that delivers full coverage without feeling like a traditional foundation is surprisingly hard—which is what makes Tarte's newest launch so interesting. The brand best known for full-glam staples like its iconic Shape Tape, just released a new take on CC cream: a CC Tinted Serum that promises flexible, lightweight wear with medium-to-full, color-correcting coverage.
Ahead of the official launch of Tarte’s CC Tinted Serum, Team Cosmo put it to the test through sweaty NYC commutes, alfresco afternoons, and even a full-on dunk in the pool to see how it really wears. Ahead, everything you need to know about Tarte’s new CC Tinted Serum, including our honest reviews, before-and-after photos, and how it held up during some of the hottest days of the season so far.
About Tarte’s New CC Tinted Serum:
Features at a Glance
| What it is | A color-correcting tinted serum that’s packed with skincare ingredients and uses encapsulated clays to help neutralize redness and discoloration. |
| Key ingredients | Hyaluronic acid (hydrating), peptides (plumping), clay (color-correcting) |
| Number of shades | 6 |
| Finish | Natural |
Our Reviews
Beth Gillette, beauty editor
Sue me, but I hate not wearing makeup, even at the beach or pool. It doesn't have to be a lot. A little skin tint or tinted sunscreen is enough to just even out my skin tone and make me feel human. Obviously, though, I don't want to wear anything heavy or anything that makes me look like I'm wearing any makeup. You know, the classic "no makeup makeup" thing.
Tarte's new CC Cream is exactly that. I'm no stranger to Tarte base products; my first-ever high-end foundation was the O.G. Tarte Amazonian Clay, and I went through about a dozen tubes of Shape Tape in college. That full-coverage, matte look is what I grew to associate the brand with, making me think that this new CC Cream would also offer up a heavy look that I didn't exactly need for a day at the pool. To my excitement, it's actually everything I've been looking for in a go-to summer complexion product.
When I dispense the product on my hand, it feels somewhat thick. But it goes on just like a moisturizer, so much so that it feels kinda weird to apply with a brush. I massage it in just as I would my face moisturizer or sunscreen, and it blends out into a natural finish with light coverage. My acne scars and texture are concealed, but I can still see my skin.
I tested this on one of the hottest days in NYC so far this year as I lay by a rooftop pool for a full eight hours. My face was sweaty, and I even dunked my head underwater a few times (oops). But my makeup somehow looked better afterward (as pictured below). The lived-in look works so well with this CC cream formula. The shine coming through my T-zone makes my face look fresh and not greasy, and it fades subtly without making it look like makeup is just sliding off. I really fell in love. I can see myself wearing this all summer. Actually, I already have this packed in my travel bag for a trip to Europe this week for quick and simple makeup applications.
Jasmine Hyman, assistant beauty editor
I’m a foundation hater. I can’t help it! I have super dry skin and loathe the feeling of anything remotely heavy on my face. So, when Tarte informed me that they were coming out with a color-correcting serum that holds up in the heat, I was excited to say the least.
At first, this goes onto the skin like a sunscreen. I put just a dot on each cheek directly onto my face after going on a run in the NYC summer humidity (as you can see, I started off looking very red) and started rubbing it in, watching the white texture shapeshift my tomato skin into a blurred version of my natural complexion (I used the shade Medium) in about 10 seconds. It definitely had a lot more coverage than I was expecting, since serums typically give a your-skin-but-better finish, but this acts like a foundation, correcting all my redness, but without a thick or goopy feel.
After applying, I didn’t need any concealer. My flushed complexion and chin acne were both completely covered, which I loved, and I don’t usually experience in a tinted serum. I topped it off with my favorite blush and some setting spray and spent the rest of the day out in the 86-degree weather. I noticed some peeling around my nose area after a few hours (which is a fault of my chronically dry skin), but above my lip and on my forehead, where I sweat the most, the coverage stayed intact.
I would say if you have dry skin, make sure to go in with extra moisturizer and primer beforehand, especially in your most flaky areas. But overall, I was pleased with the combo of the weightless feel and full coverage finish, and really appreciated the added skincare ingredients for soothing and hydration. This is an amazing option when you don’t want something overly dewy that still requires a whole layer of concealer after. It gives that true smoothed effect IRL.
Lauren Balsamo, beauty director
The first two times I used this, I hated it. But on the third try—with the right skin prep and a little shade mixing—I completely fell in love.
This product calls itself a tinted CC serum, and many similar formulas I’ve tried in the past are hydrating enough that I can skip moisturizer altogether. Not this one. My combination skin needs a generous layer of moisturizer underneath, otherwise the formula ends up accentuating fine lines and uneven texture. So if you want this to apply smoothly and deliver an airbrushed finish, hydrating skincare beforehand is essential IMO, regardless of your skin type.
As for the shades, I started with Medium but found it just a tad too light for summer. Eventually, I landed on the perfect match by mixing two drops of Medium with one drop of Tan. In terms of coverage, three drops gave me a medium finish that blurred my redness and dark spots while still looking like real skin.
For application, I like to blend it between my fingers first, then massage it into my skin, almost like a moisturizer, focusing on the center of my face where I need the most coverage. You could probably achieve an even more polished result with a makeup brush, but I’m usually rushing through my morning routine, so I appreciate how quick and fuss-free this is to apply with just my hands. I even used this one morning on the bus (see pic below for proof), and it couldn't have been easier.
I was also genuinely impressed by its staying power. Humidity, high temperatures, sweaty commutes—the formula held up through all of it. That’s not something I typically expect from lightweight, serum-like complexion products, which makes its longevity all the more impressive.
Julee Wilson, beauty editor-at-large
I’m always going to be skeptical when I see “shade-adapting” products since they don’t always play nicely with deeper skin tones. But I’ve got to say, this cc serum did what it said it was going to do. I used the Rich hue, and it definitely blended in magically.
Was it a perfect match? No. It was just slightly too dark—and the hue one step lighter was too light. But it was close enough for me to become a believer that this type of technology works, and perhaps blending the two would work for some skin tones, like your own complexion cocktail.
Plus, as the weather gets warmer and my skin tone gets darker in the sun, Rich will be perfect on me. Overall, it’s a solid pick for makeup minimalists this summer if you find the right shade.
Final Thoughts:
Overall, we were impressed by how much coverage this serum-like formula delivers while still feeling lightweight on the skin. Our biggest takeaway? Skin prep goes a long way, and if you have dry skin, this probably won’t look great unless you go heavy on the moisturizer beforehand. And while the shade-adapting technology is solid, the shades aren't quite as flexible as we'd like (it’s difficult for a fuller-coverage tint to be truly flexible). Mixing two shades can help create a more customized match, but if you're significantly lighter or deeper than a shade, the pigment won't completely adjust on its own.
That said, the performance won us over. It held up through humidity and pool days without budging, and it blurred redness, blemishes, and unevenness with surprisingly little product. If you're looking for something that’s full coverage but won’t feel heavy on the skin even after hours in the sun, this is one we'll be reaching for all summer long.
Why trust Cosmopolitan?
Jasmine Hyman is the assistant beauty editor at Cosmo who covers all things makeup. For this Cosmo HQ Review, she, along with her fellow beauty team, tested Tarte’s CC Tinted Serum for weeks ahead of its official launch to give our honest review.
Jasmine Hyman is the Assistant Beauty Editor at Cosmopolitan, where she writes about the latest beauty trends and must-have products. Her most prized beauty possessions are a meticulous skincare routine and salon blowouts. You’ll also likely find her in bed reading a good book or endlessly scrolling TikTok (spoiler: it’s usually the latter) while listening to Harry Styles’ entire discography on repeat. Follow her on Insta to be inundated with pictures of her meals.
